FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2008


FHSAA board votes to require ejected coaches to take online education program

GAINESVILLE – Coaches who are ejected from contests because of unsportsmanlike conduct will be required to complete an online coaches education program before being reinstated to sideline duty, the Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors voted at its April business today.

The Board of Directors also approved a plan for continuing its search for the Association's next executive director, after deciding on Sunday that it would not offer the position to any one of the three finalists who interviewed for the position.

Coaches who are ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct currently must serve a minimum suspension from sideline coaching of seven days and at least two contests (one game in football). The length of the suspension can be increased depending upon the severity of the unsportsmanlike act. During the suspension the coach cannot attend a contest in which his or her team participates, accompany the team to the contest, or have any other contact with the team during the contest. The coach, however, is permitted to conduct practice.

Under the proposal approved by the board, however, the coach also will be required to complete the six-hour "NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching" provided by the National Federation of State High School Associations before the coach can resume sideline coaching duties. If the coach completes the course within the suspension period, the coach will be able to return to the sidelines once the suspension is served. If not, the coach's suspension will continue until the course is completed. The school will be required to pay the fee associated with the online course unless it chooses to pass the cost on to the coach.

"Today's action sends a strong message to our coaches that the FHSAA Board of Directors holds them to a high standard when it comes to sportsmanship," said FHSAA Executive Director John A. Stewart. "Student-athletes model their behavior after that of their coaches. So, it is imperative that coaches exemplify sportsmanship in the way they conduct themselves during contests."

The board, meanwhile, set its June 12-13 meeting in Jacksonville Beach as the target for completing its continuing search for a new executive director. The position will be publicly readvertised on the FHSAA web site beginning Tuesday, April 8. Board members, meanwhile, will aggressively pursue interested applicants from a number of statewide associations representing coaches, athletic directors, principals, school board members and superintendents. Applications must be postmarked no later than May 9 to be accepted for consideration. The Executive Director Selection Committee will meet May 18 to select finalists from the pool of applicants. Those individuals will be interviewed and the next executive director chosen on June 12. Current Executive Director John A. Stewart is scheduled to retire Nov. 1.

The board chose not to offer the position to either Polk County Director of Athletics Don Bridges, FHSAA Senior Associate Executive Director Sonny Hester, Fleming Island High School Principal William S. "Sam" Ward after interviewing them on Sunday. The three individuals, however, may reapply for the position if they choose.

In other action, the Board of Directors:

• Approved for itself the following meeting dates during the 2008-09 school year: Sept. 28-29, 2008; Nov. 23-24, 2008; Jan. 25-26, 2009; April 5-6, 2009; and June 4-5, 2009. All meetings will be held at the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Buildiing in Gainesville, with the exception of the June 4-5, 2009 meeting, which will be held at the Orlando Airport Marriott.

• Amended the "Policy on Compliance and Enforcement" with regard to the meetings of the newly established Infractions Appeals Committee to specify that the committee "will meet as needed upon call of the chair with sufficient notice and in consultation with the executive director." The policy had previously stated that the committee would meet five times annually on dates established by the Board of Directors.

• Approved as presented both the Association's financial statements, as well as the financial statements of the Florida High School Athletic Association Land Corporation, for the period ending Feb. 29, 2008.

• Discussed a staff proposal to reduce the number of meetings of the Officials Advisory Committee from two to one per year and to allow one member of that committee to serve on the coaches advisory committee in his or her respective sport as a nonvoting member.

• Discussed a possible amendment to the "Policy Governing Approval of Multi-School Athletic Events" that would eliminate limitations on the maximum number of teams participating in invitational tournaments and instead impose an additional $50 per team sanctioning fee for each team participating in the event above the current limitations.

• Tabled for further study a proposed amendment to the "Non-Faculty Coach Guidelines" that would require all non-faculty coaches to complete the "NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching" online course.

• A staff proposal to require all student-athletes to participate in the "STAR Sportsmanship" behavior skills online education program during the 2008-09 school year was withdrawn from consideration.

About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.  It has a membership of more than 700 middle and senior high schools, and sponsors postseason competitions to determine the official state high school champions in 30 different sports. The 16-member FHSAA Board of Directors is the executive authority of the Association.

Contacts:
Cristina Alvarez
Director of Media Relations & Marketing, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 190
calvarez@fhsaa.org

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